Apparatus for handling and packing bananas.



Nl. SCARBOROUGAH. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND PACKING BANANASl APPucATxoN HLED MAY 4. 1914.,

WITNESSES Patented Ma-yl, 1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 1- A [N1/EN TOR. ...Zvi/55 M55/1 eBoRoUH A TTORNE Y.

J. IVE. SCARBOROUGH.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND PACKING BANANAS.

APPLICATION FlLED MAY 4 1914.

Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES IVI. SCARBOROUGI-I, OF CHATTANOOGA,

TENNESSEE.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND PACKING BANANAS.

Lild.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May to, Mille.

Application filed May 4, 1914. l Serial No. 836,317.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES M. SomeonoUGI-r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling and Packing Bananas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus which is particularly adapted to facilitate packing of bananas, either for the purpose of shipping or storing the same.

IIeretofore the pack-ing of bananas, either for the purpose of shipping or storing, has been attended by numerous difficulties in the handling due to the employment of improper methods and improperly designed and arranged apparatus. However', with the method of packing and arrangement of parts comprising my invention, the difliculties heretofore attendant upon the handling of bananas are entirely eliminated and the use of my method and apparatus results in an efiicient handling with a corresponding saving of expense and time.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification Figure 1 illustrates the preferred method of constructing the table with stepped platforms, and shows the standard rod in positionto car 1y a bunch of bananas. Fig. 2 illustrates the standard rod showing the swivelecl end in full lines in the normal position, and in dotted lines in the upward position. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the upper end of the standard, showing the swiveled end connection in section. Fig. i is a detail view of the socket adapted `to retain the standard rod in an upright position. 'Fifa 5 is a view in perspective of the complete apparatus and showing the method of incasing the bananas. Fig. 6 is a central sectional view of the banana case with the top unfastened and the bottom removed. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the bottom of the banana case. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on the line -:r of Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings z-the steppedV platform table 1 comprises the upper and lower platforms 2 and 8 respectively, arranged in end to end aloutting relation with respect to each other and constructed in the usual known manner of constructing tables, the larger platform being supported by the legs L held in spaced relation with respect to each other by means of the braces 5 extending between the legs. The lower platform 3 is secured to the end legs of the upper table and has mounted therein, preferably at the center thereof as shown, a socket 6 comprising a threaded collar 7 having a section of pipe screwed therein, said section being` covered at the lower end by a pipe cap 8 screwed to the other end thereof, and the socket being supported and retained in the lower platform 3 by reason of the collar 7 bearing on the upper surface of the platform 3 and the cap 8 bearing on the under surface of the member l0 of the platform 3.

In the socket 6, and adapted to extend vertically upward with respect to the lower platform 3 and of suitable height,- is the standard rod Il carrying the swiveled arm l2 at the upper end thereof, said swiveled arm 12 being adapted to pivot upwardly in alinement with the standard rod l1, but normally lying in the position shown in F ig. 2, with respect to said rod at substantially right angles thereto. The said swiveled arm 12 carries at the end thereof a hook 18, the purpose of which will. be hereinafter fully set forth. Mounted in the top of the upper platform 2 is the member 14 comprising a number of receptacles adapted to hold nails and other equipment, the uses of which are attendant upon the method and apparatus for handling bananas herein involved.

The banana sack or casing 15 which coniprises a part of my method and apparatus, and which is illustrated in detail in Figs. G to S inclusive, comprises a cylindrical body portion 1G carrying at the top thereof an internal ring 17 secured to the body portion l5 and holding in place the paper or cloth cover piece 18, said cover piece being adapted to be tied as shown in Fig. 5 to form the top closure of the sack or casing. The other end of the sack or casing is closed by means of the cover 19 having the straps 2O secured thereon in crossed relation with respect to each otherI and extending wholly across the cover and having their ends 2l turned up as shown in Fig. 8.

In placing the cover 19 on the sack or casing, the same lies within the body of the casing and abuts the internal ring 22. the ends 21 of the straps 2() extend outside of the casing and are nailed thereto, thus holding the cover I9 from being pushed into the that is, extending laterally outward casing or from being pulled off of the casing without special effort.

As illustrative of the manner in which the apparatus is used and the way in which my method is carried into practice, I will now describe the method of handling a bunch of bananas with the apparatus illustrated and described herein.

First the standard rod 11 is placed in position in the socket 6, carried by the lower platform 3, then the arm 12 is swung into its normal position and a bunch of bananas hung onto the hook 13 by means of a string 23 secured to the upper end of the stalk. ln this position the bananas hang in a depending position with respect to the sta-lk and the standard rod 11 as shown in Fig. 1. It is therefore a simple operation to place the sack or casing 15 over the bunch of bananas by sliding it downwardly over the top of both standard rod and bunch of bananas. The position of the sack over the bananas and standard rod is best shown in Fig. After this operation has been completed the operator then grasps the standard rod and sack or casing 15 as shown in Fig. 5 and removes the former from the socket 6 laying both down upon the surface of the upper platform 2 so that these members occupy the position indicated by the sack case which rests on the surface of the upper platform 2 shown best in F ig. standard rod 11 is withdrawn, the swiveled arm 13 straightening out and unhooking itself from the string 23 due to the withdrawing action. rlhe sack is then tied by securing the paper or cloth end together with a string and the cover 19 is inserted and secured in place in the manner before described, and the case is ready either for storage or shipment.

lt will be evident that my method, by drawing the case or sack down over the bananas eliminates the danger of injuring the bananas by breaking them from the stalk, as often happens when a bunch of bananas is lowered into a container or case by ordinary methods. Also in the other method of packing bananas in usual vogue,

In this position the it is necessary to have a case considerably larger than a bunch of bananas and to stuff the case with excelsior or other packing material to keep the goods from being injured.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myselfto the specific structure and method herein set forth and described, but may resort to such modifications as may prove practical.

'Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. The herein described apparatus for handling bananas in bimches for preparing them for storage or shipment, comprising in combination, a platform, a socket in said platform, a vertical standard rod adapted to be inserted in said socket, and an arm normally extending laterally outward from the upper end of said vertical standard rod and adapted to support a bunch of bananas, said arm being substantially straight and being pivoted to said rod in such a manner that it is adapted to support a bunch of bananas when extended at an angle to the rod and so that it may turn substantially in alinement with the rod to permit the rod and arm to be withdrawn from a casing which. has been passed over the rod and a bunch of bananas.

2. An apparatus for handling bananas in bunches, comprising in combination a platform, a standard rod, means on said platform for releasably holding said rod in upright position, and a relatively thin substantially straight arm pivoted to said rod at the upper end of the rod, said arm being normally at an angle to the rod when the same is in upright position, said rod providing a support for the arm when at an angle thereto whereby the arm may support an object and the pivotal connection between the rod and arm permitting the arm to swing into alinement with the rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. SCARBOROUGH. lVitnesses:

RUSSELL K. ANNIs, A (E1-IAS. A. MGMURRAY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i 

